| 24 January 2010
Pretty nice win. And some good signs.
Following the remarkable game vs Mavericks, in the second night of a back-to-back Sixers (15-28, .349) took care of business getting out of Indiana with a encoraging 97-107 win.
As sad as it sounds, now Sixers have a great opportunity to win three straight games for the first time this season (...), because they meet the Pacers again on Monday.
I liked what I saw in Indiana, so let's try to focus on the many positives (always keeping in mind that "it was the Pacers", exactly...)
THREE ANSWERS
1) Yes, we outrebounded the Pacers pretty bad, as expected: 52-44. The sixteen off rebounds were a key, because we didn't shoot the ball well (with a couple of big exceptions, see below). Interesting how Troy Murphy absolutely dominated the boards in the beginning, collecting eight in the first quarter and twelve at the half, but stopped there.
Sam was a beast in the few minutes he got, I was surprised he didn't play much in the second half. But there was a reason: Pacers have ZERO inside game (not 'few': zero) so they were just settling for jumpers, he would have been taken too far from the basket, so I say not a bad decision by Jordan this time. Also Thad (in the pic, my MVP), Brand and Iguodala were making up for his absence.
2) Yes, it was 7/9 from behind the arc at a point, and we finished at 7/11, 5/6 in the first half. Believe it. Yes, it was the Sixers. Brand had a pair of very nice kick outs that were completed by guys on the perimeter: once it was Iguodala, once Iverson, but maybe I missed some more. That was something we have been waiting for, what?, two years?
3) No, don't read the boxscore too quick, check it carefully. I'll help you out in focusing on the best stats. In this order: Thaddeus Young's TEN rebounds in 26 minutes. Only ten turnovers (vs Pacers' twenty-one). Five players in double figure, and nine scoring. 87% free throw shooting. The aforementioned four dimes by Elton Brand. There you go (more after the jump).THREE QUESTIONS
1) Willie Green got 30 minutes and played basically the whole second half. Simple question. WHY?
2) Why does it always take so long to pull Iverson out in the third? This time it happened with 1.11 left, vs Dallas it was 2.46. That's too much, again. At Indiana he was doing well in the period (3/6) but he had also two turnovers and an offensive foul. I'd play him a little bit less, to be honest.
3) So did Iguodala have a bad night, as the 3/9 would suggest? No. He played great defense on Granger (only five points in the first half, all off free throws), that fixed his stat line when the game was already over. You gotta love the decisive basket, when Andre stole the ball, drove all court and dished a behind-the-back pass to Young for the bucket + the foul: 83-99, 5.16 to play, to cap a 11-0 run and close the game.
REASONS
Why we won the game
Combined well inside/outside offense, controlled the boards, took care of the ball while taking full advantage of Pacers' many turnovers.
To be optimistic
Young seems another player now: he brings energy, instant scoring and the way he's hitting the glass is amazing. Brand carried the team offensively at the beginning of the third (seven quick points on 3/3, all over Murphy), sparking a nice Sixers' run that became 58-74 later. We made two last second baskets to finish the first and the third period, that was something I think I never saw this year.
To be worried
Same old story, I hope we will not regret these wins at the end of the season...
Indiana again and then @ Milwaukee before meeting the Lakers. How about extending the streak to FIVE, instead of three?
